Lost Daughters by Mary Monroe Page B

that’s it. I must have put my tampon in too deep,” Loretta lied.
    â€œWell, since you insist on wearin’ tampons instead of pads like I do, you need to learn how to use them right so you won’t be so uncomfortable,” Maureen said as she passed the black-eyed peas to Loretta.
    â€œI will, Mama.”
    â€œNow like I was sayin’—do you still want to look for a photographer? Or do you want me to call up that Mel person?” Maureen said with a snort.
    â€œUh, yeah. He seemed like a nice man.”
    â€œWell, we’ll find out soon enough. Now, unless you want to be modelin’ full-figured outfits, you need to ease up on that buttered corn bread. I’ll give Mr. Mel a call.”
    Since Maureen had tossed Mel’s business card into the trash, she had to look up his telephone number again in the phone book. All kinds of thoughts danced around in her head as she waited for him to answer his telephone. Like, what kind of photographer would not want to work with a girl as beautiful as Loretta? Maybe she was too beautiful and he was afraid that he would not live up to her expectations. Or maybe he only wanted to work with white girls. That was probably what it really was. Maureen had not seen a single photograph of a black model displayed on his wall. He didn’t want to deal with his own kind, and poor Loretta had been anxious to work with him because he was black.
    The only reason Maureen was calling Mel now was because Loretta was still interested in working with him. Maureen prayed that she could make a deal with him somehow. She had no idea that Loretta had already made a deal.
    When Mel answered his telephone on the fourth ring, he couldn’t tell Maureen quick enough to bring Loretta to his studio the following Saturday around noon, with her face fully made up and with several different outfits, at least two swimsuits, and a cocktail dress.
    â€œHmm. I’ll have to buy her a cocktail dress,” Maureen mumbled, wondering how much a brand-new cocktail dress was going to set her back. She was already going to be in the hole after she paid for Mel to do the portfolio. “Do we really need a cocktail dress? My daughter is very high maintenance, so she will only settle for somethin’ real expensive.”
    Mel laughed. “That’s not a problem. I think I can handle that.”
    â€œOh no! I can’t let you get a cocktail dress for my daughter!” Maureen protested.
    â€œLet me explain. I have a lot of prop clothing here that some of my former models left behind and never retrieved. I can let Loretta borrow anything she likes.”
    â€œOh.” For some strange reason, Maureen suddenly wondered if Mel had a woman. If he did, that woman was very lucky. Not only was he good-looking, but he was also generous. “I don’t want to put you through a lot of extra work on our account. I can borrow the money to get my daughter everything you think she needs for her pictures.”
    â€œNo problem! No problem at all,” Mel sang. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been thinking about your daughter a lot since you brought her to my studio. I’d be happy to do her portfolio and provide my management services as well. I’ve helped a lot of beginners jump-start their careers. Quite frankly, your daughter’s got a lot more potential than most of the girls I’ve worked with lately. I know I can get her a lot of work.”
    â€œI’m glad you think that. Because that’s the same thing two of those other photographers said. But it sounds better comin’ from a brother like you,” Maureen volunteered, hoping that her last sentence stroked Mel’s ego. She was pleased that he had come to his senses in time. She had thought that she was going to have to write him off. “We’ll see you on Saturday at noon. How long will the session take? I’m meetin’ some friends for dinner Saturday